Winterstein (Saxon Switzerland)

Winterstein
Hinteres Raubschloss
Foundations of the ruined castle on the Winterstein
Highest point
Elevation	390 m above sea level (HN) (1,279.5 ft)
Coordinates	50°54′38″N 14°16′48″E
Geography
Winterstein Saxony
Parent range	Elbe Sandstone Mountains
Geology
Mountain type	rock massif
Type of rock	Sandstone

The Winterstein, also called the Hinteres Raubschloss, is an isolated, elongated rock massif in the hinterland of Saxon Switzerland in East Germany. On the summit there was once a medieval castle, also called Winterstein, of which remains such as rebates for timber beams, hewn-out steps and cisterns are still visible.

Location and area

The Winterstein is located in the almost unpopulated hinterland of Saxon Switzerland above the dry valley of the Großer Zschand with the crags of the Bärfangwänden in front of it. A few kilometres to the east along the Großer Zschand is the Zeughaus ("armoury"). West of the Winterstein runs the Kleiner Zschand valley, overshadowed by the massif of the Großer Winterberg. Immediately in front of the rock massif to the south is the free-standing climbing pinnacle of Wintersteinwächter.

Map of the Winterstein

Sources

• Hermann Lemme, Gerhard Engelmann: Zwischen Hinterhermsdorf und den Zschirnsteinen. Werte der deutschen Heimat series, Vol. 2, Akademie-Verlag, Berlin 1959
• Matthias Mau: Die Felsenburg Winterstein, Stiegenbuchverlag, 2008
• Anne Müller, Matthias Weinhold: Felsenburgen der Sächsischen Schweiz. Neurathen – Winterstein – Arnstein. Reihe Burgen, Schlösser und Wehrbauten in Mitteleuropa Band 23, Verlag Schnell und Steiner, Regensburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-7954-2303-2

External links

• Defences in Saxon Switzerland, textual sketches by local historian, Erich Pilz
• Photographs of the Winterstein
• History of the Winterstein as a climbing peak